Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, live like men, be strong! Let everything that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16: 13-14

I am not a fan of the images our culture promotes for what is defined as manhood. Either today’s man is seen as a superficial, knuckle-dragging neanderthal who only has the capacity for sports or spineless, mindless wimps with no ability to be men. Ok, maybe that’s an oversimplification, but how simple is it to find an admirable representation of manhood?

In the verses above, Paul is challenging the men of Corinth to put on their big boy pants and live like men of God. It is the phrases that surround this central phrase that remind us of what defines a real man.

A few years ago, I sat with some good friends at a men’s conference and heard a sermon on this subject. These are the notes that I have scribbled in my Bible:

• A watchful man is alert and aware of temptation and threats to his marriage, family and himself.
• A faithful man stands firm in his faith relationally, evangelistically and doctrinally.
• A man who is strong is being strengthened by the grace of God to empower his life.
• A man who does everything in love, strives for the perfect balance of truth and grace as Christ.

So, what will it be – neanderthals, wimps or people who live in a manner that reflects Godly character?